Ano (あの) is a former member of idol group You'll Melt More! and former member of punk rock band I's, she is also a solo artist, model, actress, writer, radio host and TV host.
In her youth she had trouble fitting in and was bullied, she attended middle school mainly in the nurse’s office and dropped out of high school shortly after enrolling. Her experiences made her a hikikomori (recluse), in an attempt to find a place outside of school she worked part time at a supermarket, however she got into arguments with customers and eventually quit.
Starting to feel anxious about her hikikomori situation she saw a retweet on Twitter recruiting members for You'll Melt More!, she noted that it looked laid back and that she might be able to play an instrument so she decided to apply. After applying she ignored emails from the producer for a while but was repeatedly invited to at least attend a live performance, which led her to eventually go. She felt the performance was unpolished and experienced being needed for the first time, and since she had nothing else planned for her future she decided to join. She ended up joining without an interview or auditions, she joined solely based on a conversation with the producer Taichi Take (田家大知).
On September 21, 2013 Ano joined You'll Melt More! as part of the 3rd generation representing the light blue colour, a colour she would use throughout her career. During her time with You’ll Melt More! she would build up a reputation of being an “unconventional idol”. Ano would give intense performances by using death growls, diving into the audience and shouting. This unique style of performing and charisma made her popular among young fans and she would quickly form a large following. Many of her female fans began imitating Ano’s clothing and hairstyles and formed a distinct subculture, they received the name “Ano gyaru”, this later established as a new fashion genre called “light blue scene.” She would also start modelling, like in the release of photobook "ANOther" released in March 2019.
After a little over six years with the group, Ano announced that she would leave You'll Melt More! on September 30, 2019.
On September 4, 2020, she launched her solo career under the name “ano” and released her first digital single “Delete.” Alongside her solo activities she would also form a 4-member band called “I’s” with whom she would hold their first live performance on August 31st, 2021. I’s would disband by the end of 2024 for undisclosed reasons.
Throughout her solo career she has appeared in several TV programs and hosted some of her own, such as Ano-chan's Den Den Denpa♪ and her radio program Ano's All Night Nippon 0 (ZERO), which had its final broadcast on April 1, 2026. She has also continued modelling and appeared in films such as the live action Oshi no Ko. A major milestone in her career was her solo performance at Nippon Budokan in Tokyo on September 3, 2025, where she released her fourth single Cast a Curse, Break the Illusion. On the same day she launched her apparel brand “Hell Blau”. On December 24, 2025 she released her first book called "Philosophy That Doesn’t Need Philosophy".
